About Us

Science Strategy

NASA's Science Mission Directorate conducts scientific exploration that is enabled by access to space. We project humankind's vantage point into space with observatories in Earth orbit and deep space, spacecraft visiting the Moon and other planetary bodies, and robotic landers, rovers, and sample return missions. From space, in space, and about space, NASA's science vision encompasses questions as practical as hurricane formation, as enticing as the prospect of lunar resources, and as profound as the origin of the Universe. To ensure the success of the space program through generations to come, we must have simple, but compelling, long-term goals and a coherent, thoughtful plans to achieve them.

2018

The NASA 2018 Strategic Plan outlines NASA's vision for the future and provides a clear, unified, and long-term direction for all NASA activities. The strategic plan is the foundation on which NASA will build and measure success and aligns NASA's full spectrum of activities to accomplish national priorities in civil aeronautics research, space exploration, science, and advanced research and development. (6.7 MB)

2016

The 2016 Civic Scientific Literacy report for the United States provides a brief discussion of the salience of science and technology in the United States, the current level of civic scientific literacy, and how civic scientific literacy has changed over the last three decades. The report also discusses the sources, uses, and impact of civic scientific literacy in a modern society. (213 KB)

2014

The NASA 2014 Science Plan reflects the direction NASA has received from our government's executive branch and Congress, advice received from the nation's scientific community, the principles and strategies guiding the conduct of our activities, and the challenges SMD faces. The science plan that results enables NASA, as stated by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, to "do the best science, not just more science." (10.4 MB)

2013

The Astrophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate articulates a long-term plan for scientific exploration of the universe and the search for life beyond the solar system. (10.6 MB)

2011

White House Scientific Integrity Memorandum
Federal agencies are taking steps to share tools and good practices to improve the implementation of scientific integrity policies across the government. Some are incorporating scientific integrity policies into broader frameworks to improve the quality and trustworthiness of scientific research results produced or used by federal agencies.

This report discusses scientific integrity as a high priority for NASA and embedded in the rules and requirements that govern professional behavior across all technical disciplines. NASA policies in support of scientific integrity are robust and have been in place for many years. As an Agency, NASA recommits to scientific integrity on a regular basis, by reviewing and renewing existing policies every five years.

This report describes the policies that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) currently has in place to ensure scientific and engineering integrity, the actions that NASA has already taken to extend its assurance, and NASA's plan for additional actions in furtherance of implementing the Administration's policies on scientific integrity.

The report is organized to respond to the four major areas and seventeen sub-areas addressing scientific and engineering integrity that are explicitly addressed in Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy Dr. John P. Holdren's memo to heads of executive departments and agencies (478 KB).

2011 NASA Strategic Plan
The NASA Strategic Plan embraces the goals articulated in the Vision for Space Exploration and addresses our strategy for reaching them. To ensure the success of the space program through generations to come, this document outlines simple but compelling goals and a coherent plan to achieve these goals. (670.9 KB)

2010

NASA's Plan for a Climate-Centric Architecture for Earth Observations and Applications from Space

A 49-page report on NASA's plans to revitalize the nation's research satellite system; expand research, applications, technology, and education activities using NASA and non-NASA satellite data; and develop/mature technologies required for the next generation of Earth observing missions. (5.0 MB)

The 2010 Science Plan identifies the direction NASA has received from the Administration and Congress, advice received from the nation's science community, principles and strategies guiding the conduct of our activities, and challenges we face. The plan that results enables NASA, as Administrator Bolden says, to "do the best science, not just more science. (2.35 MB)

Past Strategy

The Science Plan for NASA's Science Mission Directorate emphasizes the identiï¬cation and prioritization of space missions and articulates the research program in detail, as well as describing the research solicitation, advanced technology, data management, and related activities required to achieve NASA's space and Earth science goals. (5.1 MB)